In today’s news, Luol Deng’s expiring contract in Chicago could cause a rift between the front office and the coach, Rasheed Wallace begins mentoring Josh Smith in his new gig as an assistant in Detroit and Nerlens Noel talked to the media about his rehab progress.
Thibodeau would be upset with Bulls if Deng left
According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the occasionally unsteady relationship between Tom Thibodeau and Chicago’s front office might hit further turbulence in the coming months as the Bulls prepare to make a decision on impending free agent Luol Deng. 
Thibodeau’s relationship with GM Gar Forman has been shaky of late. Forman decided to cut ties with Thibodeau’s top assistant and longtime friend, Ron Adams, over the summer. Thibodeau, meanwhile, is refusing to acknowledge to the media that there are any hard feelings.
“As I tell our players, I tell everyone, we’re not looking backwards, we’re looking ahead, and we’re getting ready for next season,’’ Thibodeau said. “That’s all we’re thinking about.’’
While Thibodeau insists that his relationship with Forman is fine, the report said one source close to the situation speculates that the relationship could be on the rocks if Chicago decides to part ways with Deng, the team’s All-Star small forward.
As we detailed earlier in the month, contract talks between the Bulls and Deng have stalled.
“Ask Tom how important he thinks Luol is,’’ the source said. “How happy do you think he would be with that decision?’’
Thibodeau has previously stated that Deng is the “glue” of his entire roster. Deng could earn a max contract on the open market next summer if he is not re-signed.
For more information about the rumored rift between Thibodeau and the Bulls’ front office, click here.
Rasheed Wallace mentoring Josh Smith in Detroit
Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press reports that Josh Smith, with the help of rookie assistant Rasheed Wallace, is starting to settle into his new environment with the Pistons. 
“Rasheed has been teaching me some things that I need to know on the block; some veteran leadership from him,” Smith told the Freep. “He has been able to show me some things. It’s always beneficial when you have a veteran guy who has played in the NBA and been successful and now they’re coaches. They can see things from a player’s and a coach’s standpoint.’’
Smith has been working diligently over the summer to improve his midrange and perimeter shooting. As I detailed in May, Smith’s poor shooting in the playoffs was the straw that broke the camel’s back in his relationship with the Atlanta Hawks’ fan base.
Wallace, who was hired by the Pistons as an assistant over the summer, is trying to instill confidence in Smith’s shot.
“You don’t want him doing things he’s not used to doing,’’ Wallace said. “We’re trying to get him comfortable making the 15- to 18-foot jump shot.’’
Nerlens Noel regaining “explosiveness”
As Nerlens Noel continues to rehabilitate his torn ACL, the rookie center of the Philadelphia 76ers is growing more and more confident with his health by the day.
Noel told NBA.com’s Jeff Caplan: “I feel great. I’m really starting to feel like my old self, being able to have my explosiveness. But I’m definitely being careful with it. From Day 1, every time I was in rehab, the last few reps, I would just think how bad I want to get on the court because of how much I want to prove to myself that I can get back and be the player I want to be.”
Noel, who tore his ACL in February, slipped from the consensus top pick in the draft all the way to sixth overall as teams were scared off by his injury.
Committed to proving his doubters wrong, Noel aims to return to the court for Philadelphia by Christmas.
“I want to be 100 percent confident not only physically, but mentally coming back from it,” Noel said.
